NEWSPORT NEWSFEED: Come on in visitors, the weather’s (mostly) fine

Monday, February 3

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The Low Isles were looking picturesque during a sailing tour yesterday (Sunday, February 2). Picture: Sailaway Reef & Island Tours

Port Douglas and Daintree tourism operators have moved to reassure travellers the region is still open for business despite flooding events happening south of Cairns.

Tourism Port Douglas Daintree executive officer Emma Tunnock said today the road was open from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas and the Daintree, and operators were still doing tours of the Great Barrier Reef and rainforests.

Port Douglas had a beautiful weekend with warm weather and little rain, but bookings had been affected by events further south, she said.

“Our region is not being impacted by the flooding rainfall occurring to the south of us,” Ms Tunnock said.

“We have our tours operating.

“Queensland is a big state.”

She said there was little to be concerned about with weather forecasts in coming days, but if conditions did change travellers in the region would receive “sufficient warnings” should there be any risks.

Although there was a road weather alert at about 8am this morning for a section of the Captain Cook Highway, that area had been “completely dry” later in the day and Cairns and the airport were still fully accessible, she said.

Newsport reader Leanne Allen Baker reaffirmed the road situation in an online comment.

“It's fine I just drove it,” she stated. 

“Little bit of water, where it's always been after a rain, on the road near the new roadworks office just past the balancing rocks, but all good.”

 

Search widens for missing man

Missing man Adam Yunkaporta.

Queensland Police are searching for a man who has been missing in Aurukun since Thursday.

Adam Yunkaporta, 60, has not been seen since leaving his home at noon on Thursday, January 30, to go fishing near the mouth of the Ward, Watson and Archer Rivers.

Cairns and Aurukun police, along with members of the community, recommenced search efforts at 7am this morning and will continue until nightfall near the boat ramp, as well as north and south of the area.

This includes foot patrols, boats, drones and a helicopter.

Adam is described as a First Nations man with brown eyes and dark short hair. 

He was last seen wearing black shorts and a blue fishing shirt with an image of a barramundi.

Police are appealing for Adam, or anyone with information regarding his whereabouts, to come forward.

 

 

More rides to the rock

A new Airnorth plane route between Cairns and Alice Springs is set to start on April 14.

The non-stop service will operate Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in an Embraer E190 jet, according to Airnorth.

“This new route enhances connectivity for both the FIFO workforce and domestic and international travellers seeking seamless access between the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Centre,” a statement from the airline reads.

Airnorth is a regional airline based in Darwin.

 

Flooding threat still front of mind for Shire

Supermarket shelves are so far the hardest thing hit in the Douglas Shire as a Tropical cyclone threat looms off the coast, as Townsville and other regions south have been devastated by flooding from the system. FULL STORY

 

Mossman Gorge trail reopens following bridge repairs

Visitors can once again explore the full Rainforest Circuit Track at Mossman Gorge after the completion of repairs to the Rex Creek suspension bridge. FULL STORY

 

WATCH THE VIDEO: Three-and-a-half metre python spotted in Cooya Beach

A Cooya Beach resident has had a close encounter with a 3.5m python, sticking around long enough to capture footage of the huge reptile. FULL STORY

 

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